U.S. Open crowd scanned for escaped murderer

TULSA, Okla. {AP} Local authorities have been scanning the crowd at this week's U.S. Open for an escaped murderer with a passion for golf. So far, they haven't found him.

Tulsa Police Officer Lucky Lamons said officers went to Southern Hills Country Club to search for Jerry Vernon after receiving a tip from a viewer of the television show, "America's Most Wanted." Vernon was featured on the June 9 episode of the show.

"We received information from 'America's Most Wanted' that they had received calls that someone spotted him in Tulsa," Lamons said.

"Because of his affection for golf and him being sighted here, our Fugitive Warrants Team went to scan the crowd, but they did not find him."

Vernon  described as a golf fanatic  was serving a life sentence for the 1989 murder of his former friend, Larry Stevens, when he escaped from the Central New Mexico Correctional Facility in Los Lunas on March 29, according to the Web site for "America's Most Wanted."

Vernon, who has diabetes and a heart condition, was staying in the hospital at the minimum-security facility when he escaped, according to police.

Vernon used a cellular phone, reportedly smuggled in by his daughter, to contact a getaway driver, police said.

The driver and two of Vernon's daughters were charged with conspiracy and aiding him with the escape and police suspect other family and friends are helping him evade capture.

Vernon is described as white, 6-foot-4 and 280 pounds. He has brown and gray hair and blue eyes.

Lamons said anyone who has seen Vernon should call authorities.

If someone spots Vernon at Southern Hills during the tournament, they should contact a uniformed officer there, Lamons said.